corpuscle

(kôr′pus′əl, -pə səl)

noun

a very small particle
Anat. a protoplasmic particle or cell with a special function; esp., any of the erythrocytes (red corpuscles) or leukocytes (white corpuscles) that float in the blood, lymph, etc. of vertebrates

Origin: L corpusculum, dim. of corpus: see corpus

Related Forms:

See corpuscle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. An unattached body cell, such as a blood or lymph cell.
b. A rounded globular mass of cells, such as the pressure receptor on certain nerve endings.
A discrete particle, such as a photon or an electron.
A minute globular particle.

Origin:

Origin: Latin corpusculum

Origin: , diminutive of corpus, body; see k^wrep- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: